US Nationals 2025 Preview + Canadian Nationals and FISU Games Recap
Release Date: 01/22/2025
Lombardia Trophy 2025 Recap
Scoreography
We examine the results from a very enjoyable Lombardia Trophy competition, including a great season debut from Ilia Malinin, a dominant gold from Conti and Macci, and surprise wins from Rion Sumiyoshi and Pate & Bye. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:07 — Men’s Comeptition / Ilia Malinin 7:26 — Yuma Kagiyama 12:24 — Nikolaj Memola 14:00 — Shun Sato 14:48 — Adam Siao Him Fa 16:28 — Kao Muira 17:22 — Andreas Nordeback 17:41 — Luc Economedies 18:28 — Maxim Naumov 19:44 — Pairs Competition / Conti and Macci 22:11 — Ghilardi and Abrosini 23:27 — Valesi and Bidar 24:04 —...
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Kinoshita Cup 2025, Bolero Cup, John Nicks Pairs Challenge Recaps
Scoreography
We recap a busy week of skating comps with the four-discipline Kinoshita Cup in Japan, the John Nicks Pairs Challenge, and the Bolero Cup ice dance event. Many heavy hitters debuted their new programs, and we have lots of feelings about them! Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:50 — John Nicks Pairs Competition 15:06 — Kinoshita Cup Men's Competition 22:49 — Kinoshita Cup Pairs Competition 30:52 — Kinoshita Cup Women's Competition 45:18 — Kinoshita Cup Ice Dance Competition 54:51 — Bolero Cup Ice Dance Competition 1:07:16 — Gold in our Hearts 1:10:20 — Wrap-Up
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French Masters 2025 and Junior Grand Prix
Scoreography
We check out the French Masters event, featuring the debut of ice dance team Fournier-Beaudry and Cizeron, and a fantastic performance from Kevin Aymoz. We also look at the Junior Grand Prix, including a controversy in Pairs, and a breakout gold in women’s. French Masters 2025 — Fournier-Beaudry & Cizeron Debut, Aymoz Dazzles In this week’s episode of Scoreography, we dig into the French Masters competition where Laurence Fournier-Beaudry & Guillaume Cizeron made their much-awaited competitive debut. With two very refined programs — including an especially memorable...
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US Summer Sizzler 2025 and Return of Keegan Messing
Scoreography
We dig into the new program previews on display at the US Summer Sizzler gala, featuring almost all the top American skaters and teams. But first — Canadian hero Keegan Messing returns for the Olympic Season! Chapters 0:00 — Intro / Return of Keegan Messing 5:59 — Returns Uncertain? (Sui and Han, Shib Sibs) 9:40 — Fear & Gibson Free Dance Announcement 10:35 — Lombardia Trophy Men's Comp is mini Oly 13:48 — US Summer Sizzler 2025 15:22 — Isabeau Levito short program 17:42 — Jason Brown free skate preview 19:16 — Amber Glenn's Like a Prayer short 21:51 — Efimova and...
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Cranberry Cup 2025 Recap and More Skating News
Scoreography
The Olympic season is upon us with our first notable singles competition, Cranberry Cup. We talk about exciting wins from Isabeau Levito and Roman Sadovsky, a standout showing from Sofia Samodelkina, and Sonja Hilmer’s marvelous short program. Plus news and other program debuts. Stargate Fandom Podcast Appearance You can hear — and SEE — Wendy and I as guests on the Stargate Fandom podcast! We talk with hosts Alyssa & Emily about our mutual fandom crossovers between Figure Skating and Sci-Fi/Fantasy. We had a terrific time with them in this wide-ranging conversation, and we hope you...
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Kaori Sakamoto Retirement Plans and other Skating News
Scoreography
Three time world champion Kaori Sakamoto announces her post-Olympics retirement plan, and we have some feelings about it. Plus lots of new program announcements, and we talk about our experience at the North American Adult Synchronized Skating Camp. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:31 — NAASC Synchro Camp Experience 4:52 — Kaori Sakamoto Retirement Plans 10:43 — Other Skating News 11:06 — Young You’s Triple Axel 13:22 — Gabby Daleman returns 14:32 — Kovalevs change coaches 16:05 — US Summer Sizzler and Program Announcements 17:53 — Riku and Ryuchi choreographers 18:33 — Mai Mihara...
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In the Mixed Zone - featuring Judith Dombrowski
Scoreography
We talk with figure skating journalist Judith Dombrowski about her work with Golden Skate and Pirouette Magazine, and what it’s like conducting interviews in the ‘Mixed Zone’ at skating competitions. Chapters 0:00 — Intro 2:06 — What is the Mixed Zone? 15:28 — Overcoming language barriers 18:12 — Skaters seeking content creators and alternative press 20:32 — A push to find “drama”? 24:40 — How much skating does a reporter actually see? 30:02 — Covering the Road to 2026 Event 33:56 — Familiar faces at events 35:45 — Best skaters in the Mixed Zone 38:50 — Looking...
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Grand Prix 2025 Assignments and Return of Sui and Han
Scoreography
We dig into all of the Grand Prix assignments for the upcoming figure skating season, as well as the unsurprising return of the Olympic Pairs champions, China’s Sui and Han. It may be skating’s off-season, but there was a lot to be excited about this past week as the 2025 Grand Prix assignments were announced — and two legends of the sport quietly confirmed their long-rumored return. The biggest story to come out of the assignments was unquestionably the return of reigning Olympic pair’s gold medalists, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong from China. While there had been rumors of their...
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Spring Skating News (May 2025)
Scoreography
We round-up the past week or so of off-season skating news, including new-and-returning programs from Kevin Aymoz, Kaori Sakamoto, and the Brown siblings. Haein Lee’s suspension has formally been nullified, and the Taschler siblings move to Finland with a new coaching team. And lots more. Chapters 1:17 — Stars on Ice and Show Season 4:57 — Kevin Aymoz brings back Bolero 9:09 — Oona and Gage Brown skate to The Godfather 11:18 — Haein Lee does Carmen; suspension is nullified 13:36 — Chaeyeon Kim working with Benoit again 15:03 — Rion Sumiyoshi working with Misha Ge and Shae Lynn...
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Listener Q&A 2025 Edition — Your Questions Answered!
Scoreography
In our second annual Q&A episode, we answer listener submitted questions about the upcoming Olympic season, our all-time favorite programs, the origin story of the podcast, and lots more. The off-season can feel LONG… especially the off-season before the Olympic season! This is why it was especially fun to dive into some “what if” scenarios, skating nostalgia, and even a few messy predictions for the coming year. We also dig into a few more serious topics, including the pros and cons of getting into the figure skating creator space, why big success for the U.S. in women’s figure...
info_outlineWe look ahead to the talent-packed 2025 U.S. Nationals competition, right after we recap the results from Canadian Nationals and the FISU World University Games, which were both surprisingly exciting.
Chapters
0:00 — Intro
0:57 — Canadian Nationals 2025
1:57 — Canadian Men's Competition
6:32 — Canadian Women's Competition
11:01 — Canadian Pairs Competition
15:53 — Canadian Ice Dance Competition
21:41 — FISU World University Games
21:45 — FISU Men's Competition
28:19 — FISU Women's Competition
33:12 — US Nationals Preview
33:27 — US Men's Competition
38:35 — US Pairs Competition
41:43 — US Women's Competition
49:34 — US Ice Dance Competition
58:16 — Gold in our Hearts
59:55 — Outro
US Nationals Preview
Men’s Competition
It goes without saying that this competition is Ilia Malinin’s to lose, since no one else competing can touch his level of difficulty. Barring a major disaster, he will take gold. The rest of the field is far more up-in-the-air — especially with Jason Brown withdrawing. We expect good things from Andrew Torgashev and Jacob Sanchez, who have both been having great seasons so far. Also, keep an eye on Max Naumov, Daniel Martynov, and maybe even Camden Pulkinen. Also, never count out Jimmy Ma!
Pairs Competition
Reigning National Champs Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea are your definite favorites coming in, but we don’t quite know what to expect from Emily Chan and Spencer Howe — who have been as high as 5th in the world before. Also, coming off a solid first half of the season, Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov cannot be counted out. Also, we’re excited to see the Nationals debut of Audrey Shin and Balazs Nagy!
Women’s Competition
Similar to Ilia Malinin, Amber Glenn is a resounding favorite — especially after the withdrawal of Isabeau Levito. However, this field is deep and could provide a lot of surprises. We’re welcoming Alyssa Liu back to Nationals, as well a Bradie Tennell. The younger competitors Sarah Everhart and Elyse Line Gracey have both shown they are threats this season as well. This will be interesting, for sure.
Dance Competition
Unless there’s a major upset, Madison Chock and Evan Bates will take this easily with Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko following for the silver. The bronze, however, is anyone’s guess! It could be last year’s third ranking US team, Emily Bratti and Ian Sommerville. Or we could see the rising Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik snatch it from their hands! Then again, would we be entirely surprised if Green and Parsons made a bit of a comeback and took it? Anything is possible!
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